Upset Stomach? 6 Common Causes and How to Treat Them Effectively

Issues like dietary habits, infections, and stress, often cause upset stomach or stomach aches. Typically, symptoms range from diarrhea, bloating, and pain. These are easily identifiable and simple to resolve by adjusting your lifestyle. 

Restoring your digestive comfort is possible if you know its causes and the solutions. Various gastrointestinal complications, such as bloating, burning sensation in your upper abdomen, diarrhea, and vomiting, are collectively termed ‘upset stomach.’ 

6 Common Causes of Stomach Upset You Should Know About 

The symptoms and causes of stomach upset vary from individual to individual. Here are the six most common ones:

Infectious Diarrhea 

A common condition known as viral diarrhea is usually caused by consuming an infected drink or food. This usually goes off on its own. 

Food Allergies and Intolerance 

Gastrointestinal symptoms are the results of reactions developed by specific foods. Some people are lactose tolerant and cannot easily digest dairy products. On the other hand, some are gluten-tolerant and find digesting barley, wheat, and rice challenging. 

Peptic Ulcer Disease 

Constant pain and discomfort in your stomach might result from ulcers lining your stomach wall. 

Dietary Habits 

If you are a processed food lover, you are more prone to gastrointestinal problems. Processed foods include pasta, noodles, biscuits, cakes, and breads. 

Variable Lifestyle 

Alcoholism, chronic stress, and smoking are variables impacting your lifestyle and, in turn, aggravating your stomach pain.

How Is Your Upset Stomach Diagnosed and Tested?

To diagnose your upset stomach, your doctor will perform a thorough medical examination and check your medical history. Stool analysis, abdominal ultrasonography, and blood tests are some preliminary diagnostic screenings. For severe cases, your doctor may even ask you to undergo other examinations like CT scans and endoscopies. 

Treating Your Upset Stomach At Home 

While many upset stomach medicines are available on the market, it is always good to try your home remedies. Here are a few of them:

Drinking Water 

Water is the best flushing agent. Your body needs water to digest whatever you eat efficiently. This digested food contains a lot of nutrients, which are then absorbed by the body. Being dehydrated makes your digestion difficult and is likely one of the contributing factors to your upset stomach. 

Avoid Lying Down

When you lie on your floor, you will likely push your stomach acid in the back direction. This is one of the causes of heartburn. Therefore, you should avoid lying down when dealing with an upset stomach until you pass a few hours. 

Ginger 

Ginger works to reduce your vomiting and nausea symptoms. This is one of the best upset stomach medicines to try at home. You can either add it to your food or your tea. There are natural ginger ales available to soothe your upset stomach. 

Avoid Foods That Are Difficult to Digest 

Researchers suggest foods that are greasy and spicy could add to your indigestion and make your condition worse. Avoiding such food helps ease the discomfort and pain in your stomach. 

Baking Soda 

Baking soda greatly benefits indigestion and heartburn by reducing the overall acidity in your stomach. However, be cautious of consuming more of it as it may result in diarrhea, irritability, muscle twitching, and muscle spasms. 

Basil 

Basil is rich in substances that help you lower the gas built up in your body. The leaves are rich in linolenic acid. This acid has enormous anti-inflammatory properties. 

Can You Prevent Your Upset Stomach Syndrome?

Upset stomach syndrome can be prevented by following a few simple tips, as mentioned below. 

• Eat your food slowly to aid in digestion
• Eat less processed or fatty foods
• Identify the ingredients or food you are tolerant to 
• Go for an allergy test
• Drink water frequently 
• Indulge in regular exercising 
• Reduce your overall stress 
• Give your stomach breaks by not eating much 
• Stick to gentle foods 
• Maintain your body’s hydration levels
• Use a water of hot bottle or soak in a warm bath 

Conclusion 

An upset stomach can be the outcome of various conditions. Gas and indigestion are the most probable ones. The severe conditions may be the result of appendicitis or bowel obstruction. Home remedies are always better to try before taking any upset stomach medicine. However, if your symptoms are severe, visit your doctor as early as possible.